Apparatus for making electrical connections to articles in transit



Feb. 6, 1951 APPARATUS FOR Patented Feb. c.1951

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS T ARTICLES IN TRANSIT Clyde N. Stover, Towaon, Md laignor to Westem Electric Company, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 29, 1948, Serial No. 706,494

13 Claims. (01. 115 -183) 1 This invention relates to apparatus for making electrical connections to articles with a minimum contact resistance variation while in transit and more particularly to apparatus for making electrical tests on insulated conductors stored on spools while they are being transported on a moving conveyor.

In themanufacture of electrically insulated wire and cable it is necessary to make a multiplicity of electrical tests such as dielectric strength, insulation resistance, mutual capacitance, capacitance unbalance to ground, etc. To obtain uniform and continuous speed of operation with efficiency in a wire working plant, it is requisite that apparatus be provided for automatically making such electrical tests while the ted, New York,

The plurality of spaced sets of plugs 2| and 22 carried by the members 5 moving with the conveyor I are adapted to enter and engage upper and lower split jacks 23 and 24. Each of these split jacks comprises a right jaw 25 and left jaw 28 having crossed arms 21, 28 pivoted at 29 and interconnected at their ends by a coil spring 30 under tension. The contours of the faces of the two laws 25, 26 are such as to provide in their closed positions a. circular opening 3| in the upper split jack 23 and a similar opening 32 in the lower split jack 24 into which the plugs 2|, 22

insulated wire is in transit on a conveying means.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a simple and dependable apparatus for automatically connecting in sequence to a stationary test set coils of insulated wire while the are being carried along on a traveling conveyor. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention wherein coils of insulated wire are subjected to various electrical tests while being moved along by a conveyor; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuits involved in Fig. 1 associated with a testing equipment.

As shown in Fig. 1 a metal spool Ill, carrying a pair of insulated e ectrical conductors H, 2 to be tested, is supported by two bars l3 which extend a short distance into each end ope ing in the spool. Each of the bars I3 is secured to a rope I4 which is fastened to an inverted T shape member IS. A plurality of these members l5 for carrying spools of insulated wire are secured at spaced distances to a link conveyor l6 traveling in an overhead trackway ll in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The conveyor it which may be of the endless type is operated by a sprocket wheel I8 driven by an electric motor I3. Midway of each moving member l5 and secured at right angles thereto is an insulator 2! which has mounted thereon two tapered metal plugs 2|, 22. The insulated conductor II to be tested is electrically connected to a terminal or plug 2| and insulated conductor I2 is connected to plug or terminal 22.

.sage of lower tapered plug fit and make electrical contact.

The upper split jack 23 is secured through insulation to a pipe 35 carried by a conduit box 36 which is fastened to a hollow carriage 31 by machine screws 33. Likewise lower split jack 24 is insulatively secured by a pipe 39 through a conduit box to the carriage 31 which is slidably mounted. on a plurality of horizontal guide rods 44 supported by any suitable framework (not shown).

The carriage 31 and split jacks 23, 24 carried thereby are normally retained in their foremost position to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 by a weighted rope 4| secured to the carriage. This rope 4| passes over a pulley 42 supported by the stationary framework of the apparatus and has attached to its free end a heavy counterweight 43.

Associated with the carriage 3'! for cooperation with the jacks 23, 24 are a plurality of cam tracks 44, 45, 46 and 41 which are supported by any suitable framework (not shown). Upper split Jack 23 has a roller 48 secured to the outside of right Jaw 25 and a second roller '49 secured to the outside of left jaw 26. These rollers 48--49 engage cam tracks 44 and 45, respectively, to hold the jaws 25, 2B of jack 23 closed against the pull of spring 3|] as shown in Fig. 1. However, when the carriage 31 is moved rearwardly the rollers 43, 4! follow the outward flare of the cam tracks 44 and 45 thereby permitting spring 10 to move the jaws 25, 23 apart to allow tapered plug 2| to pass therebetween. Lower split jack 24 also has a roller 53 secured to its right jaw 25 and a second roller 5| secured to its left jaw 26 so that these rollers 50, 5| engage cam tracks 46, 41, respectively, to hold these jaws together in clamping position as shown in Fig. 1 against the pull of its spring 3|. Jaws 25, 26 of lower jack 24 are alsomoved apart by spring 35 to permit the pas- 22 when the carriage 31 is moved rearwardly wherebyrollers 50, 5| alloy the outwardly flared ends of cam tracks water and in which the insulated wires |2 on spools ID are submerged while in transit. The ends of the conductors II and I2 on the spool l0, which are not connected to the "terminals 2|,

22, are insulated to prevent a short circuit through the water or are pulled up and positioned above the level of the tank 56 asshown in Fig. 1 so as not to be submerged. The spools I and the insulated wires stored thereon are pulled along under the water in the tank 56 and if a break or defect occurs in the insulation on conductor under test then electrical current passes through conductor 55, metal tank 56, through the water in the tank into the defect in the insulation to the wire I then through tapered plug 2| into split jack 23 in contact therewith, through conductor 51 (Fig. 2), the primary winding 58 of a transformer 53, conductor 50, through predetermined electrical circuits in the test set 6|, a conductor 62 therefrom, the secondary winding 63 of a step-up transformer 84 through conductor 65 back to ground at 65 to complete the circuit. Connected in the secondary winding 61 of the transformer 59 is a signal lamp 68 mounted on the top of carriage 31, which lamp lights up to indicate to the operator that a defect occurs in insulated, wire H under test when current passes through the primary winding 58 to induce a current in the secondary winding 61.

Similarly a lamp 10 (Fig. 2) mounted on the lower part of carriage 31 is connected to the secondary winding 1| of a transformer 12 which has its primary winding 13 connected by conductor 14 to split jack 24 and by a conductor 15 into the test set 6| to give a visual indication to the operator when a defect occurs in the insulation of wire l2under test. Electric power for the testingis supplied by an electric generator 16 connected in circuit to the primarywinding 11 of the transformer 64.

The conductors 60 and 15 (Fig. 1) extending from the split jacks 23, 24 are formed into a fiexible cable which connects into the testing equipment|i| (Fig. 2).

With the foregoing detailed description in mind it is believed that the general operation of the apparatus will now be understood. For this purpose it will be assumed that the conveyor I6 has been set in motion by the motor I9 and sprocket wheel l8 and that it is carrying along with it a plurality of spaced spools suspended from spaced members l5; said spools carrying a plurality of conductors |2 connected to the plu rality of individual pairs of tapered plugs 2 22 mounted on the arms 20 secured to the members l5, secured at spaced intervals along the con-, veyor. The spools with the insulated wires stored thereon to be tested are thus carried along under the water in the tank 56 and as a spool of wire comes into position to be tested as indicated in Fig. 1 the associated tapered plugs 2| and 22 enter intothe openings 3|, 32 of the upper and lower split jacks 23, 24, respectively, to push these jacks and the carriage 31 back along the guide rods 40 against the pull of the counterweight 43 attached to the rope 4|.

During this movement, the insulated wires |2 under test are connected to the test equipment 6| through tapered plugs 2|, 22, split jacks 23, 24, conductors 51, 14, primary windings 58, 13, conductors 60, 15, respectively, into the test set z-eqyherebyvarious-desired electrical while thewlre is in transit withou't variation in contact resistance. If a defect occurs in the insulation of wire the signal lamp 63 is operated and if a defect occurs in wire l2, signal lamp 10 is operated in the manner previously described.

After a predetermined movement of the carriage 31, split jacks 23, 24 and tapered plugs 2|, 22 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, the rollers 48, 43, 5|I, 5| follow the outwardly flared tracks 44, 45, 45, 41 whereupon the springs 30 pull the jaws 25, 26 of the split jacks 23, 24 apart to allow the tapered plugs 2 22 to pass on through the opened split jacks. When the plugs 2|, 22 pass through the jacks 23, 24 the counterweight 43 attached to the rope 4| returns the carriage 31 and the jacks back to normal position so that the jacks .are in position to meet and make contact with the next set of plugs 2|, 22 carried by the moving conveyor and connected to another pair of insulated wires, such as H, l2, stored on another spool l0. Thus the apparatus makes possible the automatic electrical testing of insulated wire or other electrical equipment while in transit from one location to another.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred illustrative embodiment disclosed herein it will be understood that it is susceptible of many diiferent forms and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

--1. Apparatus for making electrical connections to articles while in transit comprising a conveying means, means attached to the conveying means for supporting an article, an electrical terminal carried by the conveyor, a carriage positioned in the path of travel of the terminal on the conveyor, a second terminal carried by the carriage, and driving means for moving the conveying means to engage the electrical terminal thereon with the terminal on the carriage to move the carriage with the conveyor.

2. Apparatus for making electrical connections to articles while in transit comprising a-conveyor, means attached to the conveyor for supporting an article, an electrical plug carried by the conveyor, a carriage positioned in the path of travel of the plug, a split jack carried by the carriage, driving means for advancing the conveyor to bring the plug into engagement with the jack and move the carriage, and means for opening the split jack after a predetermined movement of the carriage to permit the plug to be disengaged from the jack.

3. Apparatus for making electrical connections to articles while in transit comprising a conveyor, means attached to the conveyor for supporting an article, an electrical plug carried by the conveyor, a carriage positioned in the path of travel of the plug, a counterweight attached to the carriage for normally keeping it in a predetermined position, a split jack carried by the carriage, driving means for moving the conveyor to engage the plug with the jack to move the carriage; and means for opening the split jack after a predetermined movement of the carriage to permit the plug to be disengaged from the jack and to permit the counterweight to return the carriage to normal position.

4. Apparatus for making electrical connections to articles while in transit comprising a conveyor, means attached to the conveyor for supporting tests are made an article, an electrical plug carried by the conveyor, a carriage positioned in the path of travel of the plug, a split jack carried by the carriage, driving means for moving the conveyor to engage the plug with the Jack and move the carriage, and cam tracks engaging the split Jack to keep it closed for a predetermined time and then for permitting it to open so that the plug can pass therethrough.

5. Apparatus for making electrical connections to articles while in transit comprising a conveyor, means attached to the conveyor for supporting 6 in the-path of travel of the electrical connector, and driving means for moving theconveyor to carry the submerged article along through the tank and carry the electrical connector into enagement with the movable connecting means whereby the article is adapted to be electrically connected to the testing equipment, said movable connecting means being advanced by continued movement of the electrical connector during the course 01' a test.

', 10. Apparatus for electrically connecting coils an article, an electrical plug carried by the conveyor, a reciprocable jack positioned in the a path of travel of the plug, driving means for actuatin the conveyor to engage the plug with and move the jack, means for opening the jack and disengaging the plug after predetermined travel of the jack, and means for returning the jack to its normal position after such disengagement.

6. In an apparatus for making electrical. connections to articles while in transit, a conveyor, an article holder secured to the conveyor, an electrical plug carried by the conveyor, a movable split jack for engaging the plug comprising two pivoted members and a spring for forcing the two pivoted members apart, means for holding the pivoted members together, and driving means for advancing the conveyor to carry the plug into engagement with the jack and to advance the jack to a predetermined position whereupon the spring opens the jack.

7. Apparatus for making electrical connections to articles while in transit comprising an endless conveyor, article holders fixed to the conveyor at spaced distances, a plurality of electrical plugs secured to the conveyor at the same spaced distances as the article holders, a 'plurality of reciprocable split jacks positioned in the path of travel of the electrical plugs, driving means for advancing the conveyor to sequentially engage the plugs with the jacks and move them along therewith, means for sequentially opening the split jacks after a predetermined travel to permit the plugs to pass therethrough, and means for returning the disengaged jacks to normal position to be engaged by the next set of plugs connected to other articles.

8. Apparatus for electrically connecting articles while in transit comprising a conveyor, supporting means secured to the conveyor for supporting an article to be electrically connected, an electrical terminal secured to thesaid supporting means, a reciprocable carriage positioned in the path of travel of the electrical terminal, indicating means secured to the carriage and adapted to be electrically connected to a test set, a second terminal carried by the carriage and electrically connected to the indicating means, and means for actuating the conveyor to cause engagement of the terminals to move the carriage and operate the indicating means upon a predetermined condition.

9. Apparatus for electrically connecting articles while in transit to testing equipment comprising a conveyor, a tank filled with liquid and positioned below the conveyor, means secured to the conveyor and extending into the tank to support an article submerged therein, an electrical connector carried by the conveyor and electrically connected to the submerged article in the tank, a movable connecting means adapted to be electrically connected to the testing equipment, said movable connecting means positioned of insulated wires to make tests thereon while in transit comprising'a conveyor, an elongated tank filled with a fluid and positioned below the conveyor, a plurality of means secured at spaced distances to the conveyor for supporting the coils of insulated wires in a submerged condition in the tank, a plurality of sets of electrical plugs carried by the conveyor at the same spaced distances and electrically connected to individual wires in said coils, a reciprocable carriage, means for guiding and supporting the carriage, a plurality of split jacks secured to the carriage and positioned in the path of travel of the plugs, a plurality of indicating means secured to the carriage and individually electrically connected to predetermined plugs, said tank being adapted to be electrically connected to testing equipment, driving means for moving the conveyor to move the submerged coils of wires through the tank and to bring a set of plugs into electrical engagement with and to move the plurality of split jacks and carriage to permit electrical tests to be made and to operate an indicating means when a predetermined condition exists in one of the wires under test, a spring normally tending to spread the jacks apart, camming means for holding the jacks closed in engagement with its cooperating plug and for opening the set of split jacks after moving a predetermined distance to permit the plugs to move therethrough, and means for returning the carriage and split jacks to normal position so as to be engaged by another set of electrical plugs connected to coils of other insulated wires to be tested as they are in transit through the tank.

11. In an apparatus for making electrical connections to a moving article, a conveyor, means on the conveyor for carrying the article, a first set of electrical contacts carried by the conveyor and electrically connected to the article, a second set of electrical contacts arranged to engage the first set of contacts and to be moved thereby, a plurality of indicating means connected to the second set of electrical contacts, driving means to move the conveyor to engage the first set of contacts with the second set of contacts, means coacting with the second set of contacts to allow the first set of contacts to disengage from the second set of contacts after moving through a predetermined distance, means to return the second set of contacts and the indicating means to their original position, and electrical conductors interconnecting the second set of contacts with the plurality of indicating means.

12. In an apparatus for making electrical connections from a testin means to a moving article under test, a conveyor, means carried by the conveyor for supporting the article under test, a first set of electrical contacts carried by the conveyor and electrically connected to the article under test, driving means for advancing the conveyor to move the first set of contacts, a second set of electrical contacts positioned in the 7 path'oi movement or the first set of contacts and movable upon engagement with the ilrst set 01 contacts for a predetermined distance, said second set 01 contacts being adapted to be connected to said testing means.

13. In an apparatus for electrically connecting a moving article to a movable indicating means, a first group of contacts movable with and electrically connected to the article, a second group dlcsting means to their original position after they have moved through a predetermined distance, and means electrically connecting the second group 01 contacts to the movable indicating CLYDE N. B'I'OVER. 3mm orrnn The following references are of record in the means.

01 contacts positioned in the path of travel 01 10 m of this patent:

the first group 01 contacts, said indicating means being connected to the second group of contacts, means for moving the first group or contacts into engagement with the second group of contacts, to move the second group of contacts 15 1,407,887

and the indicating means therewith, means to return the second group of contacts and the in- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,100,225 Conlon June 16, 1914 Pigeon Feb. 28, 1922' 1,664,222 Matthews et al. Mar. 2'7, 1928 2,352,779

Ehrenteld July 4, 1944 

